WHO SHOULD JOIN THE TSPA ?

The Thai Spa Association (TSPA) as one of the five recipients of a major investment to internationalize the operations of spas in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines by the European Union Asia Invest Programme, has embarked on an ambitious project to train 1,000 spa therapists over two years.

Valued at over EU1,000,000 – the project is jointly funded – EU575,000 from the European Union and EU440,000 from the other participants. The project, the first of its kind for the participants and co-ordinated by the Spa Association of the Philippines Inc. (SAPI), is a collaboration between the European Union Asia Invest Programme, SAPI, Thai Spa Association (TSPA), Association of Malaysian Spas (AMSPA), Bali Spa and Wellness Association (BSWA), together with the Confederation of International Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (CIBTAC).

The two key objectives are to enhance the capacity of 50 spa operators from each participating country to provide spa services that conform to European standards of spa operations and safety, and to enhance business relationships between spa operators and travel agents in the participating countries, in order to increase spa visits by European travelers.

The first 50 Spa Therapists / Trainers will receive training from a CIBTAC training centre in Thailand. Once they have completed their training, each of these 50 will subsequently train a further 20 in the prescribed modality/s, or a total of 1,000 therapists to ‘European standard’

Project beneficiaries include spa operators, spa therapists and training institutions in each of the participating countries, with Project participants required to pass a strict selection criteria as defined by the program, before they can join.

Work on the project has already commenced and applications for training are now being accepted. The first training is expected to be completed by the third quarter of the year.